New Appalachian Trail Chaplain prepares for long journey - WDBJ7

[rickb]

I am a Pastafarian, but can understand how a person who is convinced that I will burn in everlasting hell for that choice might feel compelled to help me avoid that fate.

I mean seriously, how could someone who really (really) believes people like me will suffer eternal damnation not make some small effort on our behalf? To do otherwise would be like watching man drown if he does not specifically ask that you to toss the life preserver at your feet.

Not a bad thing to meet and interact with wide variety of people and characters on Thru Hike. Sort of like college, in that regard. The important thing is not if they are right or wrong, but rather that they are sincere.

That will come through right away -- and who knows, the pastor might even take away a better understanding of he Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster as he meets all kinds of hikers himself.

[Sarcasm the elf]

I am a Pastafarian, but can understand how a person who is convinced that I will burn in everlasting hell for that choice might feel compelled to help me avoid that fate.

I mean seriously, how could someone who really (really) believes people like me will suffer eternal damnation not make some small effort on our behalf? To do otherwise would be like watching man drown if he does not specifically ask that you to toss the life preserver at your feet.

Not a bad thing to meet and interact with wide variety of people and characters on Thru Hike. Sort of like college, in that regard. The important thing is not if they are right or wrong, but rather that they are sincere.

That will come through right away -- and who knows, the pastor might even take away a better understanding of he Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster as he meets all kinds of hikers himself.

Can I get a Ramen!

[Stone1984]

I prefer the Flying Teapot myself over the Flying spaghetti monster.

[Deadeye]

I am a Pastafarian, but can understand how a person who is convinced that I will burn in everlasting hell for that choice might feel compelled to help me avoid that fate.

I mean seriously, how could someone who really (really) believes people like me will suffer eternal damnation not make some small effort on our behalf? To do otherwise would be like watching man drown if he does not specifically ask that you to toss the life preserver at your feet.

Not a bad thing to meet and interact with wide variety of people and characters on Thru Hike. Sort of like college, in that regard. The important thing is not if they are right or wrong, but rather that they are sincere.

That will come through right away -- and who knows, the pastor might even take away a better understanding of he Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster as he meets all kinds of hikers himself.

That's a great attitude. I'll try to keep it next time someone asks me if I've found Jesus. I really hate being proselytized, preached at, or otherwise having religion pushed on me, but I do try to accept that most are doing it with the belief that they're helping me. As long as they take no for an answer, I'm reasonable. If someone says bless you when I sneeze, I say thank you... no harm done. I can even sit through grace at the table.

[The Solemates]

I mean seriously, how could someone who really (really) believes people like me will suffer eternal damnation not make some small effort on our behalf? To do otherwise would be like watching man drown if he does not specifically ask that you to toss the life preserver at your feet.

As a believer that's actually a decent analogy that makes a good bit of sense.

[rocketsocks]

Oh I get it, this thread is a April fools

[Malto]

Oh I get it, this thread is a April fools

My only problem......... he plans to hike with his dog.

[cmoulder]

He plans to hike with his dog-spelled-backwards!

[globetruck]

What happened to HYOH?

[Lone Wolf]

buncha bellyachin' over nothin'

[Sarcasm the elf]

buncha bellyachin' over nothin'

Do you really think we have anything better to do on a Friday night?

[4eyedbuzzard]

I am a Pastafarian, but can understand how a person who is convinced that I will burn in everlasting hell for that choice might feel compelled to help me avoid that fate.

I mean seriously, how could someone who really (really) believes people like me will suffer eternal damnation not make some small effort on our behalf? To do otherwise would be like watching man drown if he does not specifically ask that you to toss the life preserver at your feet.

Not a bad thing to meet and interact with wide variety of people and characters on Thru Hike. Sort of like college, in that regard. The important thing is not if they are right or wrong, but rather that they are sincere.

That will come through right away -- and who knows, the pastor might even take away a better understanding of he Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster as he meets all kinds of hikers himself.

Yet, those who are equally convinced that there is no supernatural realm rarely if ever confront "believers" to spread what they see as the T-ruth and save the "believers" from living with a false worldview. Are they simply more polite? More realistically, proselytizing ones worldview in the name of religion is condoned and even encouraged to some degree by society, while doing so in the name of a non-theistic worldview is taboo. No atheist has ever rung my doorbell to talk about evolution or cosmology. It's not that they don't care - it's that it's socially unacceptable in a society where the majority believe in a supernatural realm.

[cmoulder]

buncha bellyachin' over nothin'

ETERNAL DAMNATION is not nothin'!!!

[Don H]

This news had the same reaction on the AT Section Hikers FB page. I don't see the big deal.

[rickb]

ETERNAL DAMNATION is not nothin'!!!

Or perhaps that is exactlty what it is.

Who can really say? As a Pastafarian, we learn from He with the Noodly Appendage that a volcano spewing stale beer is involved.

[Sarcasm the elf]

Or perhaps that is exactlty what it is.

Who can really say? As a Pastafarian, we learn from He with the Noodly Appendage that a volcano spewing stale beer is involved.

But what if you get reincarnated as a penguin?

[Feral Bill]

But what if you get reincarnated as a penguin?

I couldn't handle the dress code.